TUCSON, Ariz. ?- UCLA shot an even-par 288 Tuesday to claim the team title at the National Invitational Tournament at Omni Tucson National Golf Course.

On a day in which gusting winds pushed scores higher, the fifth-ranked Bruins managed to post the team total at par and win by seven strokes with a three-round total of 850 (-14).ArizonaState (857), Minnesota (861), TCU (863) and USC (864) rounded out the top-five places. Arizona shot a seven-over 295 and finished in seventh place with a 867 (+3).

Leading the way for the host Wildcats was junior Henry Liaw, who carded a two-under 70 Tuesday, to move into a tie for 16th place at 215 (-1).Teammate Josh Esler finished two strokes behind at 217 (+1) and in a tie for 28th place. New Mexico’s Jay Choi claimed individual medalist honors in the 84-man field by one stroke with a six-under 210 tally.

Also competing for the Wildcat varsity was Travis Esway, who tied for 34th place at 218 (+2), Nathan Tyler, who tied for 43rd place at 220 (+4), and Nicholas Park, who tied for 58th place at 223 (+7).

The Wildcat junior varsity carded a six-over 294, and slipped into a tie for ninth place at 871 (+7). Billy Whalen, who competed as an individual, was Arizona’s top-finishing player as he tied for 11th with a 213 (-3) total.He was the only Wildcat golfer to post three rounds at par or better in the tournament.

The National Invitational Tournament was contested at Omni Tucson National, a par 72, 7,148-yard facility.The Wildcats will next be in action, April 7-8, at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.